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A straightforward, confidence-boosting method to determine your rates.
The MeltzerSeltzer Team
Setting your freelance rates can feel like navigating uncharted territory. With countless pricing strategies available, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. But establishing rates that reflect your value is crucial for building a sustainable freelance business.
In this guide, we'll walk through a straightforward, confidence-boosting method to determine your rates. By understanding your expenses, desired workload, and financial goals, you'll be equipped to set rates that support the life you envision.
Want to do this the easy way?
Get my Rates Calculator to automate all the math!
The Rates Calculator
A simple tool to figure out what you actually need to charge as a freelancer—based on your real-life expenses, savings goals, and availability.
1. Know Your Expenses
Begin by calculating your monthly financial needs. This includes:Reddit
- Personal Expenses: Rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, insurance, debt payments, and savings.
- Business Expenses: Software subscriptions, marketing costs, professional development, equipment, and office supplies.
- Debt: What do you need to pay minimum to keep up with your debt? Most credit cards and loans require a monthly minimum to remain in good standing.
Being thorough ensures you don't underestimate your financial requirements.
2. Calculate Total Monthly Income Needs
Add up all your personal and business expenses to determine the total amount you need to earn each month to cover your costs.
3. Add a Buffer and Taxes
Freelancers are responsible for their own taxes. In the U.S., it's advisable to set aside 20-30% of your income for taxes. Additionally, consider adding a 5-10% buffer to account for unexpected expenses or fluctuations in income.
Example:
- Total Monthly Expenses: $4,000
- Taxes (25%): $1,000
- Buffer (5%): $200
- Total Monthly Income Goal: $5,200Upwork+2Contract Rates+2Clockify+2
4. Determine Your Billable Hours
Decide how many hours per month you want to dedicate to client work. Remember, not all working hours are billable. Time spent on administrative tasks, marketing, and professional development should be excluded.
A sustainable full-time workload typically involves no more than 110 billable hours per month.
5. Calculate Your Baseline Hourly Rate
Divide your total monthly income goal by your desired billable hours to find your baseline hourly rate.
Example:
- Monthly Income Goal: $5,200
- Billable Hours: 100
- Baseline Hourly Rate: $52
6. Create Rate Tiers
Establishing rate tiers provides flexibility and room for negotiation.
- Baseline: Your minimum acceptable rate (e.g., $52/hour).
- Goal: A comfortable rate that supports growth (e.g., $57/hour).
- Reach: A higher rate for premium projects or clients (e.g., $62/hour).
These tiers help you adapt to different project scopes and client budgets while ensuring profitability.
Additional Resources
For a more in-depth exploration of rate setting, including custom pricing strategies, access to a rates calculator, and personalized support, consider joining the Pop Club membership. Inside, you'll find comprehensive resources to further empower your freelance journey.
Pop Club
a supportive microcommunity for freelancers with everything you need to start, scale, and thrive.
What’s inside Pop Club
24/7 Chat Support
With channels like:
- Shame Free Questions
- Accountability Buddies
- Yell in Caps Here
- Rates & Pricing
- LinkedIn help
and more!
Events
Every month we have:
1️⃣ Workshop
2️⃣ Office Hours (ask me anything)
The Freelance Resource Library
You’ll get access to every resource I’ve ever created, including:
- Templates & Tutorials
- Systems for running your biz & getting clients
- How-tos & comparison guides
→ There’s a lesson for everything
Weekly Accountability
We’ll help you reach your goals, together.
Every week, I hold accountability challenges.
Every other week, I check in with each member individually to help you hit your goals (or adapt to challenges).
BONUS:
Pop Club now includes:
- 📺 The Replay Library – watch over 44 workshops from me and our guest experts, at your own pace.
- 🚀 Get Started Freelancing – my beginner course for starting your freelance biz.
Freelance Rates FAQ
Q: How often should I revisit my rates?
A: I recommend doing this at least once a year or quarterly if you’re just starting out. It’s especially important after gaining new skills, completing significant projects, and with inflation annually. Adjusting your rates ensures they reflect your current value and market conditions.
Q: Should I charge hourly or per project?
A: It depends on the project's nature and your preference. Hourly rates are straightforward for tasks with variable scopes, while project-based pricing can be beneficial for defined deliverables. Ensure whichever method you choose aligns with your financial goals and provides fair compensation for your time and expertise.
Q: How do I handle clients who negotiate lower rates?
A: Be prepared to explain the value you bring and how your rates are calculated. If necessary, adjust the project scope to fit their budget without undervaluing your work. Remember, it's okay to walk away from clients who don't respect your rates.
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